The O-Zone Football Power rankings will be released on every Monday throughout the football season. Rankings are a measurement of dominance within class and not a head-to-head comparison. Coaches are encouraged to send any information, including stats, milestones and records to Chris Parker (cparker@ky3.com). See the top plays of the week in the video above.
TOP PHOTOS OF WEEK 1 – CLICK HERE
1. Lamar (1-0 – LW: 1)
The Lamar Brotherhood football machine kept rolling on Friday with a nation-leading 50th consecutive win. Lamar beat Rogersville 65-20 in the opening week. The Lamar defense has been so good during the current win streak that Friday marked just the sixth time in the last 50 games that the Lamar defense allowed a team to reach 20 points. This week the Tigers will host another former COC Small team in Hollister, which is coming off of a 35-0 season-opening win over East Newton.
2. Webb City (1-0 – LW: 2)
Webb City had a few questions entering a Week 1 game with Carl Junction after graduating a strong senior class. The Cardinals answered those questions by rattling off 35 unanswered points to beat Carl Junction 42-9. The offense was led by quarterback Cade Beason and running back Durand Henderson. Beason had 102 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 10 carries. Henderson had 15 carries for 104 yards. The Cardinals finished with 314 total rushing yards. The defense was equally as impressive holding Carl Junction to just one touchdown. This week Webb City renews a rivalry with Class 6 Joplin.
3. Carthage (1-0 – LW: 3)
Carthage had little trouble in a season-opening 38-7 win over Nixa. The Tigers scored two first-quarter touchdowns and never looked back. The first was on a run by quarterback Zeke Sappington. Later in the quarter he showed off his arm connecting with Jayden Morgan for the second touchdown and all the points Carthage would need in Week 1. Carthage will hit the road to face a Carl Junction team this week that desperately needs a win to avoid falling two games out in the conference standings.
4. Joplin (1-0 – LW: 7)
It took Joplin a bit to get going in its first Central Ozark Conference game, but the Eagles would get rolling on the way to a 41-18 win over Willard. Junior running back Isaiah Davis did the heavy lifting with 25 carries for 158 yards and three of Joplin’s six touchdowns. Quarterback Blake Tash had 196 yards and a touchdown through the air. The dynamic Zach Westmoreland caught five passes for 125 yards while rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown on three carries. Luke Kuehnel was one of the stars defensively with a sack and interception to go with his 14 total tackles. This week Joplin faces off with Webb City in the area’s biggest game of the week.
5. West Plains (1-0 – LW: 8)
West Plains showed no ill effects from being without starting quarterback Connor Rackley in a 42-0 win over Hillcrest. Brayden Lidgard provided all the offense the Zizzers would need with 26 carries for four touchdowns to go with one catch for 36 yards and another touchdown. West Plains hits the road for another Class 4 test at Rolla this week. The Zizzers will have to contain Trey Quick who rushed for 274 yards and three touchdowns in Rolla’s season-opening win over Glendale.
6. Mt. Vernon (1-0 – LW: 10)
Mt. Vernon lost all but one starter from a stellar defense that led the Mountaineers to the Class 3 state championship last season. On Friday, Mt. Vernon proved that unit has reloaded by holding Monett to just seven points in a 37-7 season-opening win. The Mt. Vernon defense forced four turnovers and blocked a punt in the game. The offense was orchestrated by Zach Jones who completed 16 passes to eight different receivers for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Jones also rushed for two scores.
7. Springfield Catholic (1-0 – LW: NR)
Catholic announced its entrance to the Big 8 Conference in a big way by beating one of the conference’s strongest returning teams in Seneca 50-42. Quarterback/battering ram Tyson Riley was unstoppable with 19 carries for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown runs were from distances of 78 and 71 yards out. It was a good start for the former COC Small teams with the five schools combining to go 4-1 in the opening week of play in the Big 8. Things don’t get any easier for the Irish with a trip to Cassville this week.
8. Seneca (0-1 – LW: 6)
Seneca came up on the short end of Friday night’s 50-42 decision against Catholic. Quarterback Gavin Clouse was a real bright spot for the Indians with 20 carries for 267 yards and four touchdowns to go with 110 yards passing. Monty Mailes had 15 carries for 98 yards to give the Indians more than 350 yards on the ground. The Indians will have to rebound quickly as Reeds Spring comes to town this week coming off a 52-32 win over Nevada. Overall, the battle to be the area’s best Class 3 team is shaping up to be one of the area’s most interesting story lines this fall.
9. Carl Junction (0-1 – LW: 4)
Carl Junction hung tough with Webb City early, but the defending Class 4 state champion proved too much in a 42-9 defeat. Moving on after the graduation of several strong players led by Zeke Wall was always going to be tough, but replacing running back/linebacker Rayquion Weston who is out due to injury might take the Bulldogs a little bit to get adjusted to. Joe Kennedy was a dual-threat in every sense of the word as he accounted for 232 total yards on 23 rushes and 22 pass attempts. Carl Junction will need to move on from Friday’s loss quickly as Carthage comes to town this week.
10. Ava (0-1 – LW: 5)
Ava ran into a Buffalo team that was looking to make a statement in Week 1 on Friday. The Bison did just that by beating an Ava team that made it to the Class 2 State Quarterfinals just last year 20-16. The Bears will step back into Class 2 play this week with a three-hour road trip to Hallsville. Hallsville is 0-1 as well after losing 29-16 to Father Tolton Catholic last week.
Knocking on the door: Lebanon, Strafford, Reeds Spring, Pierce City, MV-BT Liberty, Thayer
